1. Alaska draws pioneers, pilgrims, and countless adventurers to its frozen wilderness for reasons that many can’t see or understand. Whether they seek out nature’s beauty and knowledge like Chris McCandless, or the glory of achievement like climber John Waterman, most find the conditions cruel and unrelenting. Alaska is beautiful, but for many, it is less a refuge than a peril.
2. Carine remembers one of her earliest memories of Chris from the childhood that they shared together. Chris seemed to have a knack for always knowing what to sell, how to make the pitch, and he was astonishingly successful at it. Chris’s door-to-door vegetable business was only the beginning. At the age of twelve, he started a neighborhood copy business called Chris’s Fast Copies, where he charged customers two cents less than the local store charged, and even offered free pickup and delivery. In high school, Chris was a salesman for a local building contractor, and in a matter of months, he had saved seven thousand dollars; enough to buy himself a used yellow Datsun.
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When McCandless finally reached the Teklanika, he felt the inexplicable joy of achievement, yet understood that this was only the beginning of his journey. After travelling for over 4,000 miles, he had finally come face to face with what he believed to be his destiny. With a backpack full of books, rice, and only the bare essentials, Chris sought out some form of enlightenment, understanding, and most importantly- independence. He wanted to be able to seek out the means of his own survival and he found his refuge in Fairbanks City bus
In 1992, when Chris McCandless abandoned modern society and fled to Alaska to find himself and, in the long run, lose his life, Americans from all over saw his death as a tragic downfall, and his story as a relatable and moving tale of a young man simply trying to make a difference. On the other hand, others looked at his journey to be an inevitable suicide-trip, considering his lack of supplies and overall experience. However, despite the fact that he was unprepared, McCandless, because of his ideas and motivation for a better world, was justified in shunning society in order to pursue his dream life on the Alaskan frontier.
Chris McCandless started his journey on April 1990, he had traveled from Atlanta, through the southern states of North America, down to Central America, and up to Alaska, leaving many views and impressions of himself along the way. Many from people that he had met and lived with for a week or so, others from Alaska with their own views. Most of the negative views had been from Alaskans, they had felt that McCandless was a reckless, ill-prepared, nut who got lucky. However the positive thoughts and views come from people he had actually met from his journey. Due to these views and impressions we come to our own conclusions of McCandless and what he is remembered for.
Chris was lucky to have found the bus, it allowed him to survive for as long as he did. Unlike Krakauer and the explorers, Chris did not have a map and struggled to cross the river. In addition, Chris spent long hours struggling to survive alone. Krakauer had only an idea of what it was like for Chris. The explorers and several other people thought that Chris was crazy for what
Are you into the wild? Chris McCandless was, but are you? In the book, Into The Wild, Jon Krakauer talks about the journey of Chris McCandless. Krakauer talks about Chris journey on going hitchhiking to Alaska. First of all he was all by himself, while on his journey to Alaska, he had met people throughout the way that made a big impact on him.
In nature, Chris focused only on himself and survival, rather than his troubles at home, the needs of others, or the standards of society. In a way, he was forced to go into the outdoors because of these poor relationships and inner conflicts within himself. Although Chris sought nature to help him, it destroyed him. He never returned from Alaska to put into practice what he had finally learned about himself and his need for others. Nature and his plan had worked against him, since, he eventually died of starvation.
Christopher “Alexander Supertramp” McCandless was a dreamer. However, unlike most of us nowadays, Christopher turned his desire for adventure into reality. Similar to Buddha, he gave up his wealth, family, home, and most possessions except the ones he carried before embarking on his journey. He traveled by various methods, mostly on foot, to eventually reach his desired goal in the Alaskan wilderness. Unfortunately, due to various mistakes, Christopher ultimately passed and his body was found in a neglected Fairbank City Transit Bus. His motivation to achieve his goal was based on the many aspects of his life. Chris’s dysfunctional family weighed heavily on him, one prime reason for driving him onto the road of freedom.
in Krakauer 70). The way this epigraph can relate to the theme of the story is that the way Chris wanted to live his life was simple compared to others. All Chris wanted to do was get to Alaska and Into the Wild where he can be alone and enjoy the surroundings which was nature, but as other people who lived “normal lives” would want more than what they already have. For example Chris had his Datsun which was a older car that he enjoyed because it was simple, but his parents wanted to get rid of the car and buy Chris a better car for his graduation, he denied their idea simply because he didn’t want or need a different car. Chris’s insights were a bit different than most people’s because any other kid would have most likely accepted that gift from their parents. This also shows why Chris wanted to simply go away and live such a simple life in Alaska, because he wasn’t crazy he just had a simpler insight on life.
Think about it - you’re out in the middle of Alaska, freezing cold with no way to keep warm. Doesn’t Alaska sound pretty difficult to explore; in particular exploration by foot? Alaska would be difficult to explore due to the many factors: climate changes, natural disasters, and wild animals. Now, sit back, relax, grab some coffee and prepare to learn about why it would be rough to explore.
My senior year of high school took me on an odyssey through Alaska's Arctic Circle. When the bush pilot set us down on a gravel airstrip in an Eskimo village, a world of rugged wilderness emerged before me. An Inupiat gentleman with long gray hair and a thick beard met my family at the airstrip, and, with his four-wheeler and wagon, he served as our taxi. He zoomed us along a trail that wound its way through tall pines, bouncing through mud puddles and sinkholes as we went. The trail zagged on for five miles or so, until we arrived at a place where little box houses appeared on the tundra. The four-wheeler slowed, coming to a stop in front of a log cabin. I sat in the wagon, looking at a mere stack of logs beneath a tin roof. I felt totally
In what could have been Chris McCandless’s last contact with humanity he tells his new comrade, Wayne Westerberg, “If this adventure proves fatal and you don’t hear from me again I want you to know you are a great man. I now walk into the wild” (Krakauer 3). For 112 days Chris lived off the harsh Alaskan land. For anyone who is brave enough to travel on the stampede trail and cross the treacherous Teklanika River you will come across the Fairbanks City Transit System Bus 142. Once a backcountry shelter for hunters, trappers, ranger patrols, and for a short time Chris McCandless, Bus 142 now serves as a memorial for Chris McCandless. Travelers will make the trip to witness the basic resources Chris had at hand and the courage it took to
The story of Chris McCandless has become a pop culture phenomenon. Many are fascinated by his desire to abandon his family and society and “walk into the wild” (Krakauer 69). Newscasts, magazine articles, movies, and books have tried to define what motivated him to give up everything for his Alaskan odyssey; however, the answers died with McCandless. People make assumptions about him without knowing his entire story. McCandless chose to do the unconventional, making people think he was either foolish or brave and determined, but ultimately he was selfish for doing what he did.
In the film “Into the Wild” it shows Chris, a young adult, trying to make his way to Alaska. His beliefs in freedom and isolation from the modern world would drive him to go to Alaska in hope that he finds the so simple goal, happiness. He struggle sand faces obstacles that hinder him to his destination. Odd people, intelligent people, elderly people, young people; he met all
Alaska is as stunning as one million diamonds in the sunlight,but is as dangerous as 5 bears in a room with one person unarmed.The geography of Alaska is difficult to explore because there are animals,snow,and a lot of mountains.Alaska is very hard to explore because of its climate,Mountains,and animals.
Cold, bitter, frostbite all season, what state am I in? Alaska is one state that people went to get rich with gold. The geography of Alaska make it difficult to explore and settle because of the climate, landscape, and wild animals.
When I hear a person talk about the great state of Alaska, I wonder what he or she would say about it. Is it the endless mountain ranges covered with snow, or could it be the frigid temperatures? The state of Alaska has mountains as far as the eye can see. If you have ever climbed to the top of a mountain, you know how exciting it can be once you have reached the top. Especially, when it is your first experience climbing the face of any mountain and you do not know what to expect.